ELEM:Required summer reading programs

[Shayne Russell <srussell@VOICENET.COM>]

Happy New Year all!
I found out today that on Wednesday afternoon, a committee will be meeting
in the media center to discuss a summer reading program.  I don't know who
is on this committee, or if they have met before, but anyone who wants to is
welcome to attend and I intend to be there.  I'm kind of surprised I was not
asked or invited to be on the committee, but anyway...
My understanding is that the development of a required summer reading
program is being considered.  I would like to be prepared with examples of
what is being done elsewhere.  Our school is 5th and 6th grades only-- 900
students.  What I'm most interested in learning about right now are these
two things:
1.  If students are required to read books over the summer, how many books
are we talking about for 5th and 6th graders?
2.  In schools where summer reading is required, what kind of follow up is
done to ensure the reading was done? (Book report on a book from the list?
Participation in book discussion group?...)
If anyone would like to share ideas, I'd be real happy to have your input!
Thanks in advance!
****************************************************************************
Shayne Russell
Educational Media Specialist & KidsConnect Volunteer
Mt. Laurel Hartford School
Mt. Laurel, NJ
srussell@voicenet.com
http://www.voicenet.com/~srussell

KidsConnect is a question-answering and referral service on the Internet,
provided by the American Association of School Librarians, a division of the
American Library Association
****************************************************************************